Sailing - Marblehead Current

11 Oct

Marblehead makes waves as Etchells Nationals come to town

Laurie FullertonSailing, Sports

The 2026 Etchells U.S. National Championship was held Oct. 9-11 in Marblehead this past Friday through Sunday. The three-day regatta was hosted by Eastern Yacht Club and Marblehead's Etchells Fleet 4. Bruce Durkee snapped these shots over the weekend. COURTESY PHOTOS / BRUCE DURKEE The top winners were: 1. James Cunningham, Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain, Serena Vilage on Lifted — New York Yacht Club/SDYC2. Tomas Hornos, Andrew Macrae, Ron Weed on Cruel Jane — Boston Yacht Club/Eastern Yacht Club3. Jud Smith, Marc Gauthier, Steve Girling…

06 Oct

Nor’easter damaged at least 16 boats in Marblehead, harbormaster says

Leigh BlanderSailing, Top Stories

At least 16 boats broke free, sank or washed ashore during the recent nor’easter, Harbormaster Mark Souza told the Harbors and Waters Board Oct. 5, offering the clearest accounting yet of the storm’s toll on Marblehead Harbor. The figure does not include boats damaged when other vessels struck them during the storm, Souza said, meaning the total number of boats affected is higher. Harbormaster Mark Souza said at least 16 boats "either broke free, sank, washed ashore" during the recent nor'easter. COURTESY PHOTOS / BRUCE…

28 Sep

Harbormaster: At least seven boats wash ashore in nor’easter

Leigh BlanderSailing, Top Stories

This Monday morning, a coastal flood watch remains in effect with the next high tide at about 12:430 p.m. The weekend's powerful nor’easter battered Marblehead Harbor, ripping boats from their moorings and sending them crashing onto rocks and beaches. At least one sailboat sank. Harbormaster Mark Souza Monday morning said crews were still assessing the damage as rough conditions continued. “At this time we are still in an active storm management protocol. We do not have a full assessment of the damage as we are…

25 Sep

As nor’easter barrels toward Marblehead, coastal flood, high wind warnings in effect

Leigh BlanderSailing, Top Stories

Marblehead is bracing for the season's first nor'easter, with coastal flood and high wind warnings in effect through the weekend. "Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines," according to the National Weather Service. "Power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult... The long duration of the winds coupled with heavy rain and fully leafed trees may exacerbate the risk for tree damage and power outages." As of Friday noon, some boat owners were still scrambling to pull their boats out of the harbor.…

27 Aug

Marblehead native comes home to direct first film

Grey CollinsArt, Sailing, Top Stories

For three cold, windy May days this year, a sailboat moored in Marblehead Harbor became a bustling film set. Led by Marblehead native Molly Greville, the cast and crew of the short film “Waspringa” braved the inhospitable conditions to get the job done and send the film to the post-production phase. Greville wrote, directed and stars in the film. The 18-minute movie, which Greville describes as a dark comedy and a coming-of-age story, explores the dynamics between family members on their annual sailing trip in…

22 Aug

PHOTO GALLERY: Townies take to Marblehead waters for national regatta

Leigh BlanderRecreation, Sailing, Top Stories

This weekend, the National Town Class Association is hosting its annual regatta out of the Corinthian Yacht Club. "The Town Class has the distinction of being the oldest continuously raced fleet in Marblehead," according to the NTCA website. "The group is made up of sailors of all ages and backgrounds." Regatta organizer Joe Fava wrote to the Current, "The story of the weekend was Bart Snow and crew Cheryl Schilling winning the regatta on a tie break over Mark Maitland and Phoenix Varela. Bart first won…

20 Aug

Pleon exchange connects young sailors from Marblehead and the Bahamas

Grey CollinsSailing, Top Stories

For generations of Marblehead sailors, Pleon Yacht Club has been a place for kids and teens to learn to sail and form a community. For Will Dailey, a Pleon alumnus, it inspired him to create an exchange program connecting coaches from Marblehead with sailors from a grassroots sailing academy on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The partnership between Pleon and the Eleuthera Sailing Academy began after Dailey, who had sailed at Pleon his whole childhood, spent two months coaching at the academy in…

17 Aug

Top sailors, tight finishes highlight Ted Hood Regatta

Laurie FullertonSailing, Sports, Top Stories

This past weekend marked the ninth annual Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta with down to the wire racing in both the PHRF, J105 and Finn Classes. The winner of the 21-strong Finn Masters was decided in the last leg of the last race when leader Darrel Peck of Oregon scored a total of 17 points after eight races giving him the overall win. John Dane of Mississippi finished his eight races with 18 points while North Shore sailor Luke Buxton of Hamilton took the…

15 Aug

PHOTO GALLERY: Ted Hood Regatta back for 9th year

Leigh BlanderSailing, Top Stories

The ninth annual Ted Hood Regatta is underway this weekend, hosted by the Eastern Yacht Club. Here's a photo gallery of Saturday's action by Current contributor Bruce Durkee. Stay with the Current for full regatta coverage on Sunday.

12 Aug

Ted Hood Regatta returns this weekend

Laurie FullertonSailing, Sports

This coming weekend marks the 9th annual Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta taking place at the Eastern Yacht Club. The Ted Hood Regatta was established in 2017 by the Storm Trysail Club’s Marblehead Station to honor Marblehead's famous sailmaker and 1974 America's Cup winner Ted Hood. The regatta this year will feature both an exciting one design event as the 2026 Finn Masters’ North America Championship will take place starting Friday, Aug. 14 with 21 Finns from around the United States and Canada attending.…